Learning to Let Go and Accept Help

A guide for new moms on passing off feedings to breastfeed successfully.

Sleep deprivation: it’s a constant in every mom’s days. Whether you are a new mom or an experienced mom, that zombie-mom feeling is very much a reality. If you are nursing, it can feel like that for the first few months until you get into a schedule where your baby is sleeping between feedings.

Having 5 children and working from home has some unique challenges, and finding the time to breastfeed on demand, work on my blog, and still get other things done around the house can be impossible some days. I refuse to give up on breastfeeding just yet, although some days I feel like making a switch to formula could be easier, especially since my little guy is open to taking a bottle. However, I am determined to make breastfeeding work for us a little while longer (my last little one nursed until he was 29 months).

Here's how I kept the breastfeeding connection and my sanity at the same time.

Tip number one:

Take "me" breaks when you get the chance, or even when you are feeling a little overwhelmed.

Even being an experienced mom, I still have days where I feel overwhelmed and overtaxed. I know from experience that just sometimes taking 5 minutes for yourself can make all the difference. One way I do this while exclusively breastfeeding is by passing off a feeding onto dad, his older siblings, or another trusted person.

I was able to work on the blog, edit photos, and send emails all while pumping hands-free using the NUK Simply Natural™ Feeding Support System. They fit on most pumps (I have the Medela Freestyle) and you stick the cups in your bra, leaving your hands free to do other things while your pump does all the work. The leak-proof cups are concealed and fit comfortably into your bra.

Before Simply Natural Freemie, I wasn’t pumping often because I just didn’t have time to pump and work. For some women who have to go back to work right away, this is the perfect product to discreetly pump at work while still getting the job done.

Tip number two:

Accept help feeding baby when you absolutely must take care of other tasks. But try to rest.

I know as a mom you want to do all the things, but in all honesty, all the things can wait. Dealing with a newborn is a full-time job that requires you to do little else but be at baby’s beck and call. But when other things need your attention, finding a way to feed your baby that minimizes nipple confusion and makes for easy transitions from breast to bottle is a great way to have daddy help, however.

The NUK Simply Natural Bottles make it easy to go from breast to bottle while keeping the mom-baby bond strong. It has multiple nipple holes and a shape just like mom, allowing it to give your baby that familiar fit and feel. The nipple is wide and flexible and moves with baby, allowing for a continuous latch. I have found that Toby is less gassy using this bottle, which has a built in anti-colic air venting system, compared to others we have used.

My final tip will always be:

Go with your gut.

If you feel like something isn’t right, or you just have the feeling, go with it. I have always found that my gut was right most times when it came to my kids, and I rely on it a lot.

Jessica writes over at 4 The Love of Mommy, a blog dedicated to amusing stories of everyday life in the home of a large family by today's standards. The joy of raising a happy, healthy boat load of kids and the fun tips, tricks and smiles we have along the way. There is nothing better than the sound of laughter even after the milk spills.